Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 6/20/2009

Question
My daughter has taken dance since she was 4 years old. She has taken a pre-school ballet/tap class two years, took only tumbling one year and then took jazz from the time she was 7. This past year she took jazz and ballet. The owner of our studio worked with her last summer to get her up to speed so she could enter the same level ballet class as her jazz.  She did very well this year with ballet.  In the fall she will be able to take a pre-pointe class, and the owner of the studio has evaluated each student in her class level to decide if they are ready for pre-point in the fall.  Her instructer told me that she will be able to take pre-point and that she has a beautiful point to her feet, and if she wants too, my daughter would do great in pre-pointe class.  I just do not know if she is too young to take a pre-pointe class.  I will be calling the studio and asking the owner some questions. But I need more info.  My daughter really loves dance, and she is taking a ballet class along with a tap class this summer  and will be adding tap class and possible a modern or lyrical class in the fall.  Thanks for any info you could offer. Jen

Answer
Hi Jen. Your daughter is not too young to be in a pre-pointe class, I don't know exactly what this particular teacher gives in a pre-pointe class. Pre-pointe foot exercises are very specific, and can be learned and done at home. Practising the finer details  of ballet posture, turnout, and positions of balance can also be addressed in a pre-pointe class.

A general guide to a student going on to dance in pointe shoes is that she has taken at least three years of ballet, and at least three times a week in the past year. This of course could vary with age, strength and the maturity of the student.

I recommend a book called The Perfect Pointe Book, which can be purchased at the link http://www.linkbrander/com/go/70655 and takes you to the author's site where she talks about it. It is a download with tons of explanation (photo and video included) about foot types, foot exercises, lots on basic ballet technique, and gives progress charts for students to log their strength gain and then self-assess for the next round of exercises. This is for the more ambitious students who want to get ahead faster but safely. The author is a dance medicine specialist and has a great rapport with kids.

It sounds like the pre-pointe class could be a very good second class for your daughter. The feet with the "good points" are the feet that need extra strengthening, due to the ample flexibility.

If your daughter is interested, I have synopsized a lot of the data from The Perfect Pointe Book at my blog http://www.balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com on the left sidebar where there are categories of blog posts, with one about getting into pointe shoes.

Please feel free to follow up if you have any more questions. All the best to you both, Dianne